Social Protection: Life Cycle

Social protection: a life cycle continuum investment for social justice, poverty reduction and development A. Bonilla García and J.V. Gruat Social Protection Sector, International Labour Office, ILO Available online as PDF file [64p.] at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/download/lifecycl/lifecycle.pdf "…..The existence of social protection can be recognized as one of the most significant social achievements of the 20th century. Systems of social protection enable societies to advance the well-being and security of their citizens by protecting them from vulnerability and deprivation so that they can pursue a decent life. On the one hand, social protection can meet the essential needs of human survival by ensuring that all men and women have basic social and economic security Socio-economic security is key to the well-being of the individual and the family. By responding to people's needs, social protection fosters social inclusion and cohesion - secure families are the building blocks of secure communities and stable societies. When properly managed, it is an instrument of empowerment and social progress. It affects capacity to work and productivity at work. And social protection gives poor people a platform to step from fighting for survival to working for a better future and staying out of poverty…."